Guitarist Kelly Richey’s hard-charging power blues trio hits Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, April 3, 6-9 p.m., and makes their 21st Saloon debut Thursday, April 4, 5:30-8:30 p.m. With rocking guitar licks and gritty vocals, the Cincinnati artist has been playing guitar since she was 15 years old. She has been active in that region for nearly 20 years with over 15 solo releases to her credit. Check Richey’s “Fast...

Two tributes to longtime Lincoln resident and Chicago blues legend Magic Slim take place this week. Magic Slim, also known as Morris Holt, passed away Feb. 21 in a Pennsylvania hospital after a brief illness.
Magic’s son Shawn Holt is now fronting Slim’s legendary band The Teardrops. The younger Holt has brought another Lincoln musician, Levi William, on board with him as an official Teardrop. The new band’s...

Round One of the Blues Society of Omaha’s Nebraska Blues Challenge kicks off at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar on Sunday, March 24. Performing are Crimson Dawn (3:30 p.m.), Thrift Shop Radio (4:40 p.m.), Lou DeLuca & The R&M Blues Band (5:50 p.m.) and Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers (7 p.m.). Rounds Two and Three take place April 7 at Gator O’Malley’s and April 21 at McKenna’s with a total of 14 bands participating. Three bands...

Omahan Gary Flanagan was an ardent supporter of local musicians. After his untimely passing of an apparent heart attack in January, his funeral reception was held at Slowdown. A good 20 or so of Omaha’s most notable singer-songwriters were in attendance. They all had the same message, in nearly the same words. “Gary came to all my shows and he always sat in the front row.” “Gary knew the words to all my songs.”...